Josquin Desprez was known for composing when he liked, not when asked, and was chosen by the Duke of Ferrara over Heinrich Isaac, a composer of lesser talent but more cooperative character.
Historical Context
The development of music printing in the early 16th century greatly amplified Josquin Desprez's reputation, with his compositions featuring prominently in the first collections published by Ottaviano Petrucci.
Interpretation
The performers on this album combine voices with modern electronic instruments like the ondes Martenot, Fender Rhodes, and Buchla modular synthesizer to highlight the timelessness of Josquin Desprez's music.
Instruments
The ondes Martenot, an instrument developed in the 1920s, has been used across genres by figures like Pierre Boulez, Messiaen, Léo Ferré, and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood.
Composer Biography
Josquin Desprez, considered the supreme master of Franco-Flemish polyphony, was born around 1450 in Hainaut and may have studied with Ockeghem, a composer he regarded as "the good father" of a generation of musicians.
Compositional Technique
Josquin Desprez's piece 'Ut Phoebi radiis' features a play on the degrees of the hexachord, where syllables designating these degrees are assigned to different pitches according to rules of 'solmisation'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Josquin Desprez was a contemporary of the movement to emancipate from the Latin language, and while this album includes Latin pieces, they are inspired by sentimental themes, such as Virgil's texts about Dido and Aeneas.
You might also enjoy...
Crecquillon: Chansons et motets
Adieu m'amour. Chansons et motets de Guillaume Dufay
